Every morning, the We Love Baseball crew reviews the Nastiest Pitches from the previous day’s games in glorious high-definition GIFs. We want to bring you the highest caliber of nastiness possible, so if you see a nasty pitch, please tell us about it. You can tweet @PitcherList to let us know, and we’ll give you a shout-out here in the article if your tip makes the cut.
As a bonus for PL+ members, let us know about a pitch on the PL+ Discord in the Nasty Pitches Channel, and if your suggestion is included the next day, you’ll be entered into a weekly drawing for a free T-shirt!
Aaron Civale’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/bigflusteredgermanshorthairedpointer
Aaron Civale started the first game of the Guardians’ doubleheader Monday and did so in tremendous fashion. The righty picked up 10 strikeouts—all of them the result of his curveball. He showed off the big breaker to Jeimer Candelario here in the second.
Xzavion Curry’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/miserlyblueermine
Cleveland called up Xzavion Curry to start the nightcap and the former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket wasted no time picking up his first career K. Curry began his Major League career needing only three pitches to strikeout Riley Greene on a great slider.
Sandy Alcantara’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/playfulhotbluewhale
Sandy Alcantara continued his dominance on Monday, tossing an easy seven shutout innings and picking up as many strikeouts. Sandy pairs his triple-digit fastball with a changeup in the low 90s with great arm side run. He struck out fellow superstar Juan Soto in the second on a change below the zone. (h/t to PL+ member Pete Dixon)
Joe Musgrove’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/marriedgrouchyfly
Opposing Alcántara was the Padres’ Joe Musgrove. While the Friars’ hurler was tagged with the loss, he pitched well in his own right and tallied five punchouts in six innings. He ended the first with a fantastic curveball to Jesús Aguilar.
Jonathan Loáisiga’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/decisivebonyazurevase
After a great 2021, Jonathan Loáisiga has struggled in 2022 to the tune of a 6.00 ERA. Monday was a step in the right direction for the Yankee reliever who tossed one and a third shutout innings and picked up a pair of strikeouts. He doesn’t throw it often, but he showed off a filthy slider to Jose Siri.
Jhoan Duran’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/forsakenwhirlwindhoneybee
Jhoan Duran continues to have a reservation on Nastiest Pitches, and once again, his curveball steals the show. The Twin struck out two in one inning en route to a Minnesota victory. Poor Nate Eaton had no chance on this breaking ball.
Shohei Ohtani’s Splitter
https://gfycat.com/deliriousfrightenedaidi
The late-night battle out west featured one of the best pitching matchups of the night with Shohei Ohtani battling new Mariner Luis Castillo. Ohtani had his great splitter on display in this one and had Ty France flailing at one in the first.
Luis Castillo’s Four-Seam Fastball
https://gfycat.com/necessaryminiaturegoldfish
Unfortunately for Ohtani, he was also on the wrong side of a Nasty Pitch on Monday night as Luis Castillo painted a 98 MPH fastball on the inside corner to catch Ohtani looking.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns of Twitter)